Stackable compressed gas cylinders

ABSTRACT

A disposable compressed gas container having a cylindrical body with an annular collar projecting above the top and an annular skirt depending from the bottom. The collar and skirt are so dimensioned that the collar of one container nests in complementary disposition with respect to the skirt of a second container longitudinally stacked therewith. Latching means are provided to interlock the nested collar and skirt together, and plurality of axially stacked pair of coupled containers are adapted to be strapped about the girth of the waists defined by the nested collars and skirts.

United States Patent Robert B. Schaeier Malvern, Pa.;

Robert J ernberg, Worcester, Mass. 869,759

Oct. 27, 1969 Jan. 4, 1 972 Pennwalt Corporation Philadelphia, Pa.

[72] Inventors [21] Appl. No. [22] Filed Patented [73] Assignee [54] STACKABLE COMPRESSED GAS CYLINDERS 5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 206/65 B, 220/23.4, 220/23. 6, 220/97 R [51 Int. Cl B65d 71/02, ;B65d 21/02 Field of Search 220/97 R, 97 B, 85 P, 5, 5 A, 23.4, 23.6, K; 222/143; 206/ B, 65 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,078,135 4/1937 Griffiths 220/973 2,371,578 3/1945 Badger 220/97 R 2,622,771 12/1952 Tulou 222/143 X 2,805,795 9/1957 Bames..... 220/40 UX 2,812,099 11/1957 Eugan 220/23.4 FOREIGN PATENTS 1 10,720 3/1961 Pakistan. 220/ P 82,537 10/1919 Switzerland 220/55 K Primary Examiner-George E. Lowrance Attorneys-Carl A. Hechmer, Jr. and Stanley Bilker ABSTRACT: A disposable compressed gas container having a cylindrical body with an annular collar projecting above the top and an annular skirt depending from the bottom. The collar and skirt are so dimensioned that the collar of one con- ,tainer nests in complementary disposition with respect to the skirt of a second container longitudinally stacked therewith. 'Latching means are provided to interlock the nested collar :and skirt together, and plurality of axially stacked pair of cou- ;pled containers are adapted to be strapped about the girth of the waists defined by the nested collars and skirts.

PATENTUJ am m 3.831374 INVENTORS.

ROBERT E. sc/mrrnv ROBERT JERNBERG ATTORNEY mimmm 4:972 3.631.914

SHEET 2 BF 2 I ii a INVENTDRS ROBERT 8. SCHAIFIR ROBERT JERNIE'RG A TTORNIY STACKABLE COMPRESSED GAS CYLINDERS This invention relates to large compressed gas cylinders, and more particularly relates to containers for storing gases at a pressure below 300 p.s.i., for example, refrigerants such as fluoro-chloro carbons, or petroleum gases, such as propane.

Conventional full-size gas cylinders are 56 inches long by inches in diameter. As a result they are substantially unstable in configuration, heavy in construction, difficult to move and high in cost. The prior containers are of the reusable variety, and multiple trips are required to amortize their cost.

It is an object of this invention to provide a disposable container system having a configuration which promotes mobility and facility in handling.

Another object of this invention is to provide a disposable cylinder system in which a plurality of individual containers may be nested and a plurality of nested containers may be unitized.

Another object of this invention is to provide a compressed gas cylinder which may be conveniently rolled about in the manner of a keg.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a nesting and stackable system for compressed gas containers which permits simplified unitization.

Yet still another object of this invention is to provide a system for integrating and unitizing compressed gas cylinders which offers great convenience in both manual or machine handling.

Other objects of this invention are to provide an improved device and method of the character described which is easily and economically produced, sturdy in construction, and both highly efiicient and effective in operation.

With the above and related objects in view, this invention consists of the details of construction and combination of parts as will be more fully understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. I is a side elevational view of a pair of longitudinally stacked gas cylinders embodying this invention and compared with a conventional gas cylinder.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a plurality of gas cylinders embodying this invention strapped together in unitized rectangular configuration.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along lines 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of three pairs of coupled gas cylinders strapped together in unitized triangular disposition.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts, the invention comprises a disposable compressed gas cylinder, generally designated as A, which is adapted to be axially coupled end-to-end with one or more cylinders of the same design to form a unitized stacked configuration. A plurality of stacks of two or more cylinders each are further adapted to be integrated for bulk handling by strapping together three or four stacks about their combined waist.

Each cylinder A includes a sheet metal body portion 12 having upper and lower closed ends 14 and 16121] stamped and formed from stainless steel sheet stock of 0.035 gauge or high ductility steel of 0.065 gauge for example. A pair of symmetrically disposed longitudinally spaced beads 18 and 20 are also stamped in the body portion 12 and peripherally extend outwardly therefrom to define hoops for conveniently rolling the cylinders about on the ground or on loading platforms. A valve 22 is detachably secured to a threaded fitting at the upper end portion 14 in a generally conventional manner. A pair valves may be employed where bottom withdrawal is desired.

A circular collar 24 is welded to the upper end 14 of each cylinder and fonns a ring upwardly projecting therefrom. The collar 24 includes a pair of opposed hand holes 26 for gripping purposes so that the cylinders may be conveniently lifted or tilted manually. A circular skirt 28 is welded to the bottom 16 and defines a stand upon which the cylinders may sit or on which they can be rolled in a tilted disposition. The interior diameter of the skirt 28 is slightly larger than the exterior diameter of the collar 24 whereby the collar is adapted to be received and nest within the skirt. In this manner, a collar 24 is adapted to nest within an adjacent skirt 28 when two cylinders are axially abutted. A conventional cylinder Al is shown in dotted lines in FIG. I.

A plurality of latches or clamps B are attached to the bottom skirt 28 and are circumferentially spaced about its lower periphery, for example every 120". Each latch B includes a stud 30 which is rigidly secured to the skirt 28 such as by peening over its end within an aperture therein or by welding. An L-shaped latching member 32 is slidably supported for rotational or longitudinal movement on the stud 30, and a coil spring 34 compressed between the stud head 30a and the body of the latching member 32 urges the latter into abutment with the skirt. The latching member 32 includes a finger 34a which is adapted to be received within one of three complementary slots 36 circumferentially spaced at 120 intervals about the collar 24, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The latching members B with their fingers 34a engaged within the respective slots 36 of the collar 24 retain two adjacently nested cylinders A in clamped stacked disposition with respect to each other. Correspondingly, withdrawal of the latches B against the opposing bias of the spring 34 disengages the fingers 340 from the slots 36 such that the nested collar 24 and skirt 28 are no longer locked together. For disengagement and for normal individual handling of a cylinder A, it is preferable that the latches 32 be rotated into a parked" position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 4.

Referring now to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, a pair of axially coupled cylinders A may be unitized with two or three other coupled pairs by incorporating a steel strap 40 about the combined girth of the waist zone defined by the perimetrical projection of the collars. Because of the hourglass configuration of the waist, only a single strap 40 is required to integrate eight cylinders in a rigid unitized configuration as set forth in FIG. 5 or six cylinders as shown in FIG. 7. When six or eight cylinders are strapped together in a unitized configuration they may easily be handled by bifurcated lifting element 42 of a conventional forklift truck.

It is also apparent that a single cylinder A of the instant invention is more easily handled by virtue of improved stability afiorded through its lower center of gravity and broader base. Manual movement of the cylinders A is safer and easier because an individual cylinder may be laid on its side and rolled as a keg. The combined stability and mobility of the compressed gas cylinders of the instant invention are to an appreciable extent achieved through the use of a body 12 having nominal dimensions 25 inches long by 15 inches in diameter and a shell thickness of 0.065 inch as compared to a conventional cylinder whose dimensions are 56 inches long by 10 inches in diameter and 0.080 inch thick. Similar stability improvements are possible with other sizes and with other materials.

What is claimed is:

l. A compressed gas container comprising a generally cylindrical shell having a valved top and a closed bottom, means constituting an annular collar projecting above the top, means constituting an annular skirt depending from the bottom, said collar and said skirt being so dimensioned and arranged that the collar of one container nest in complementary disposition with respect to the skirt of a second container when two or more containers are longitudinally stacked with respect to each other, and latching means for detachably interlocking said nested collar and skirt together, said collar and said skirt each having an external diameter smaller than the diameter of said cylindrical shell to define an hourglass waist when a pair of longitudinally aligned containers are stacked in interlocking engagement with each other, and a single strap banded about the girth defined by the laterally registering waists of a plurality of pairs of longitudinally interlocked containers in circum- 4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said fingers are L- shaped in configuration and are spring biased inwardly toward said skirt, and means to rotate said fingers into an inoperative disposition.

5. The invention of claim 1 including diametrically opposed hand holes in said collar for lifting the container.

P0405o I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE (5/69) V a a CERTIFICATE OF COECTION Patent: No. 3, 531, 974 I Dated 7 January 4, 1972 Inventor) Robert B. Schaefer and Robert Iernberg It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

nun

i In Column 2, line 30, before "cylinder" insert single In claim 3 Column 3, line 5, the numeral "1" should read 2 Signed and sealed this 9th day of May 1972.

(SEAL) Attest: v

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSGHALK Attesting Officer Corrnnissioner o'f Paitents 

1. A compressed gas container comprising a generally cylindrical shell having a valved top and a closed bottom, means constituting an annular collar projecting above the top, means constituting an annular skirt depending from the bottom, said collar and said skirt being so dimensioned and arranged that the collar of one container nest in complementary disposition with respect to the skirt of a second container when two or more containers are longitudinally stacked with respect to each other, and latching means for detachably interlocking said nested collar and skirt together, said collar and said skirt each having an external diameter smaller than the diameter of said cylindrical shell to define an hourglass waist when a pair of longitudinally aligned containers are stacked in interlocking engagement with each other, and a single strap banded about the girth defined by the laterally registering waists of a plurality of pairs of longitudinally interlocked containers in circumferentially abutting disposition to form a unitized stack in which the need for pallets or blocks is eliminated.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said latching means comprise circumferentially spaced fingers on said skirt.
 3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said skirt is larger in diameter than said collar, and said collar includes circumferentially spaced slots for receiving said fingers.
 4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said fingers are L-shaped in configuration and are spring biased inwardly toward said skirt, and means to rotate said fingers into an inoperative disposition.
 5. The invention of claim 1 including diametrically opposed hand holes in said collar for lifting the container. 